California Organized Investment Network (COIN) Is a Collaborative Effort Between the California Department of Insurance, the Insurance Industry, Community Affordable Housing and Economic Development Organizations, and Community Advocates.

The Investigation Division investigates suspected fraud committed by insurance agents, brokers, public adjusters, bail agents, insurance companies and other individuals and entities transacting the business of insurance who perpetrate fraud against consumers.

These regulations govern the treatment of nonpublic personal information about individuals who obtain or are claimants or beneficiaries of products or services primarily for personal, family, or household purposes. These regulations shall apply to all licensees of the California Department of Insurance subject to California Insurance Code Sections 791 et seq., namely insurance institutions, agents, and insurance support organizations. Licensees not subject to California Insurance Code Sections 791 et seq., but subject to Gramm-Leach-Bliley (GLBA), 15 U.S.C. Sections 6801-6810, shall comply with GLBA privacy provisions and with Sections 2689.12 through 2689.20 of these regulations.

(a) "Clear and conspicuous" means that a notice is "reasonably understandable" and "designed to call attention to the nature and significance of the information" in the notice. All notices must be clear and conspicuous and accurately reflect the licensee's privacy policies and practices.

(6) Avoids explanations that are imprecise and readily subject to different interpretations; and

(7) Achieves a minimum Flesch Reading Ease Score of 50. (The Flesch Reading Ease Score rates text on a 100-point scale - the higher the score, the easier it is to understand the document. The formula for the Flesch Reading Ease score is:

206.835 - (1.015 x ASL) - (84.6 x ASW)

where:

ASL = average sentence length (the number of words divided by the number of sentences)

ASW = average number of syllables per word (the number of syllables divided by the number of words).)

A notice is "designed to call attention to the nature and significance of the information" in it if it:

(8) Uses a plain-language heading to call attention to the notice;

(9) Uses an easy-to-read typeface and type size (at least 10 point);

(10) Provides wide margins and ample line spacing;

(11) Uses boldface or italics for key words;

(12) In a form that combines the licensee's notice with other information, uses distinctive type size, style, and graphic devices, such as shading or sidebars; and

(13) If on the back or inside of a multi-page form, is accompanied by a prominent notice on the front of the form directing the reader's attention to the privacy notice and where it may be found.

A notice on a web site is "designed to call attention to the nature and significance of the information" in it if it is rendered as a page using Hypertext Markup Language (html) in addition to any other webpage formats used, is at least the equivalent point size and type as the standard text on the licensee's web site, and, uses text or visual cues to encourage scrolling down the page if necessary to view the entire notice and ensures that other elements on the web site (such as text, graphics, hyperlinks or sound) do not distract attention from the notice, and the notice is either:

(14) Placed on a screen that consumers frequently access, such as a page on which transactions are conducted; or

(15) Accessed from a screen that consumers frequently access through a link that connects directly to the notice and is labeled appropriately to convey the importance, nature and relevance of the notice.

(b) "Collect" means to obtain information that the licensee organizes or can retrieve by the name of an individual or by identifying number, symbol or other identifying particular assigned to the individual, regardless of the source of the underlying information.

(c) "Consumer" means an individual who seeks to obtain, obtains or has obtained an insurance product or service from a licensee that is to be used primarily for personal, family or household purposes, and about whom the licensee has nonpublic personal information. "Consumer" includes that individual's legal representative. Examples include, but are not limited to, the following:

(1) An individual who provides nonpublic personal information to a licensee in connection with obtaining or seeking to obtain financial, investment or economic advisory services relating to an insurance product or service, is a consumer regardless of whether the licensee establishes an ongoing relationship.

(2) An applicant for insurance prior to the inception of insurance coverage is a consumer.

(3) An individual who is a consumer of another financial institution is not a licensee's consumer solely because the licensee is acting as agent for, or provides processing or other services to, that financial institution.

(4) An individual is a licensee's consumer if the individual is a beneficiary of a life insurance policy underwritten by the licensee, a claimant under an insurance policy issued by the licensee, an insured or an annuitant under an insurance policy or an annuity issued by the licensee, a certificate holder under an employee or other group policy, a bodily injury claimant against a commercial liability policy, a worker's compensation claimant, or a mortgagor of a mortgage covered under a mortgage insurance policy; and the licensee discloses nonpublic personal information about the individual to a nonaffiliated third party other than as permitted by California Insurance Code Section 791.13.

(5) If the licensee provides initial, annual and revised notices to the plan sponsor, group or blanket insurance policyholder, group annuity contractholder, or workers' compensation plan participant, and does not disclose to a nonaffiliated third party nonpublic personal information about such an individual other than as permitted under California Insurance Code Section 791.13, an individual is not the consumer of the licensee solely because of that relationship. If the licensee does not meet all the conditions of this paragraph, the described individuals are consumers of a licensee.

(6) An individual is not a licensee's consumer solely because he or she is a beneficiary of a trust for which the licensee is a trustee or because he or she has designated the licensee as trustee for a trust.

(d) "Customer" means a consumer who has a continuing relationship with a licensee under which the licensee provides one or more insurance products or services to the consumer that are to be used primarily for personal, family or household purposes.
A consumer has a continuing relationship with a licensee if the consumer is a current policyholder of an insurance product issued by or through the licensee; or the consumer obtains financial, investment or economic advisory services relating to an insurance product or service from the licensee for a fee.
A consumer does not have a continuing relationship with a licensee, and therefore is not a customer, if, for example:

(1) The consumer applies for insurance but does not purchase the insurance;

(2) The licensee sells the consumer travel insurance in an isolated transaction;

(3) The consumer is no longer a current policyholder of an insurance product or no longer obtains insurance services with or through the licensee;

(4) The consumer is a beneficiary or claimant under a policy and has submitted a claim under a policy choosing a settlement option involving an ongoing relationship with the licensee;

(5) The consumer is a beneficiary or a claimant under a policy and has submitted a claim under that policy choosing a lump sum settlement option;

(6) The customer's policy is lapsed, expired, or otherwise inactive or dormant under the licensee's business practices, and the licensee has not communicated with the customer about the relationship for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months, other than annual privacy notices, material required by law or regulation, communication at the direction of a state or federal authority, or promotional materials;

(7) The consumer is an insured or an annuitant under an insurance policy or annuity but is not the policyholder or owner of the insurance policy or annuity; or

(8) The consumer's last known address according to the licensee's records is deemed invalid. An address of record is deemed invalid if mail sent to that address by the licensee has been returned by the postal authorities as undeliverable and if subsequent good faith attempts by the licensee to obtain a current valid address for the individual have been unsuccessful.

If so, and if the consumer has not opted out, the licensee shall, at least annually, remove the consumer's name from any list for marketing purposes for disclosure to a nonaffiliated third party.

(e) "Financial institution" means any institution engaged in activities that are financial in nature or incidental to such financial activities as described in Section 4(k) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1843(k)).

Financial institution does not include:

(1) Any person or entity with respect to any financial activity that is subject to the jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission under the Commodity Exchange Act (7 U.S.C. 1 et seq.);

(2) The Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation or any entity charged and operating under the Farm Credit Act of 1971 (12 U.S.C. 2001 et seq.); or

(3) Institutions chartered by Congress specifically to engage in securitizations, secondary market sales (including sales of servicing rights) or similar transactions related to a transaction of a consumer, as long as the institutions do not sell or transfer nonpublic personal information to a nonaffiliated third party.

(f) "Financial product or service" means any product or service that a financial holding company could offer by engaging in an activity that is financial in nature or incidental to such a financial activity under Section 4(k) of the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956 (12 U.S.C. 1843(k)). Financial service includes a financial institution's evaluation or brokerage of information that the financial institution collects in connection with a request or an application from a consumer for a financial product or service.|

(g) "Nonaffiliated third party" means any person or entity that is not an affiliate of, or related by common ownership or affiliated by corporate control with, a licensee. Nonaffiliated third party includes any company that is an affiliate solely by virtue of the direct or indirect ownership or control of the company by the licensee or its affiliate in conducting merchant banking or investment banking activities of the type described in Section 4(k)(4)(H) or insurance company investment activities of the type described in Section 4(k)(4)(I) of the federal Bank Holding Company Act (12 U.S.C. 1843(k)(4)(H) and (I)).

(h) "Nonpublic personal financial information" means personally identifiable financial information a consumer provides to a licensee to obtain an insurance product or service from the licensee, information about a consumer resulting from a transaction involving an insurance product or service between a licensee and a consumer, or information the licensee obtains about a consumer in connection with providing an insurance product or service to that consumer.
"Nonpublic personal financial information" includes any list, description or other grouping of consumers that is derived using any personally identifiable financial information that is not publicly available. "Nonpublic personal financial information" does not include medical record information.

(i) "Nonpublic personal information" means "personal information" as defined in California Insurance Code Section 791.02(s). "Nonpublic personal information" includes "nonpublic personal financial information" and "medical record information" (as defined in California Insurance Code Section 791.02(q).
"Nonpublic personal information" includes any list, description or other grouping of consumers that is derived using any personally identifiable information that is not publicly available. "Nonpublic personal information" also includes any information about the licensee's consumer if it is disclosed in a manner that indicates that the individual is or has been the licensee's consumer; any information the licensee collects through an Internet cookie (an information-collecting device from a web survey); and information from a consumer report.

If information about individuals associated with a business entity is collected or accessed in connection with a consumer transaction, or is used for marketing products or services intended for personal, family, or household purposes, it is nonpublic personal information for purposes of these regulations. Insurance transactions relating to products obtained by a policyholder for business, commercial, or agricultural purposes, but which actually provide insurance primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, involve nonpublic personal information for purposes of these regulations.
A dual purpose policy providing only incidental or supplemental commercial coverages is still a policy primarily for personal, family or household purposes for purposes of these regulations.

(j) "Opt-In" means that a licensee must obtain a consumer's permission before sharing certain nonpublic personal information with others.

(k) "Opt-Out" means that a licensee must allow a consumer the opportunity to prevent the sharing of certain nonpublic personal financial information with others.

(l) "Ownership of voting securities," as used in California Insurance Code Section 791.02(g), means ownership or power to vote twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the outstanding shares of any class of voting security of the person or entity, directly or indirectly, or acting through one or more other persons, and includes power in any manner over the election of a majority of the directors, trustees or general partners (or individuals exercising similar functions) of the person or entity.

(m) "Publicly available information" means any information that a licensee has a reasonable basis to believe is lawfully made available to the general public from federal, state or local government records; widely distributed media; or disclosures to the general public that are required to be made by federal, state or local law.
A licensee has a reasonable basis to believe that information is lawfully made available to the general public if the licensee has taken steps to determine that the information is of the type that is available to the general public; and when an individual can direct that the information not be made available to the general public, the individual has not done so.

(a) In addition to any notice of information practices required by California Insurance Code Section 791.04, licensees shall provide notice as required by this section. Licensees may provide the notices required by California Insurance Code Section 791.04 and this section in a single combined notice or in separate notices, so long as all the requirements of California Insurance Code Section 791.04 and these regulations are satisfied. If a licensee uses a California notice and another separate notice, the California notice shall clearly state that any rights a consumer, claimant, or beneficiary may have as described in the California notice are not limited by the standard privacy notice that the licensee also uses.

A licensee shall provide a clear and conspicuous notice that accurately reflects its privacy policies and practices to:

(1) A customer, not later than when the licensee establishes a customer relationship, except as provided in subsection (c) of this section; and

(2) A consumer, claimant, or beneficiary before the licensee discloses any nonpublic personal information about the consumer, claimant, or beneficiary to any nonaffiliated third party, if the licensee makes a disclosure other than as authorized by California Insurance Code Section 791.13(a) through (j) or (l) through (r), unless the licensee has a customer relationship with the consumer, claimant, or beneficiary, or a notice has been provided by an affiliated licensee, the notice clearly identifies all licensees to whom the notice applies, and is accurate with respect to the licensee and the other institutions.

(b) When an existing customer obtains a new insurance product or service, intended primarily for personal, family, or household purposes, the licensee need not provide a new initial notice if the notice most recently provided by the licensee or an affiliate is accurate with respect to the licensee and the affiliate.

(c) A licensee may provide the initial notice required by subsection (a)(1) within a reasonable time after the licensee establishes a customer relationship if:

(1) Establishing the customer relationship is not at the customer's election; for example, if a licensee acquires or is assigned a customer's policy from another licensee or residual market mechanism and the customer does not have a choice about the licensee's acquisition or assignment.

(2) Providing notice not later than when the licensee establishes a customer relationship would substantially delay the customer's transaction; for example, when the licensee and the individual agree over the telephone to enter into a customer relationship involving prompt delivery of the insurance product or service. In that case, the customer shall be provided with oral notice of the licensee's privacy policies, provided that the privacy notice is mailed or provided in electronic form within fourteen (14) business days after the sale, and documentation is maintained showing that oral disclosure was provided to the customer. For licensees who do not disclose personal information other than as permitted by California Insurance Code Section 791.13, an oral disclosure is not required.
The customer's transaction is not substantially delayed when the relationship is initiated in person at the licensee's office or through other means by which the customer may view the notice, such as on a web site. NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 791 - 791.27, Insurance Code, 15 U.S.C. Sections 6801, 6805, 6807. Reference: Sections 791.04, Insurance Code; 15 U.S.C. Section 6803.
Section 2689.6. Annual Privacy Notice

In addition to any notice of information practices required by California Insurance Code Section 791.04, licensees shall provide notice as required by this section. Licensees may provide the notices required by California Insurance Code Section 791.04 and this section in a single combined notice or in separate notices, so long as all the requirements of California Insurance Code Section 791.04 and these regulations are satisfied. If a licensee uses a California notice and another separate notice, the California notice shall clearly state that any rights a consumer, claimant, or beneficiary may have as described in the California notice are not limited by the standard privacy notice that the licensee also uses.

A licensee shall provide a clear and conspicuous notice to customers that accurately reflects its privacy policies and practices not less than annually during the continuation of the customer relationship. Annually means at least once in any period of twelve (12) consecutive months during which that relationship exists. A licensee may define the twelve- consecutive-month period, but the licensee shall apply it to the customer on a consistent basis. A licensee is not required to provide an annual notice to a former customer with whom it no longer has a continuing relationship.
NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 791 - 791.27, Insurance Code, 15 U.S.C. Sections 6801, 6805, 6807. Reference: Section 791.04, Insurance Code; 15 U.S.C.

Section 6803.
Section 2689.7. Information to be Included in Privacy Notices

(a) The initial, annual and revised privacy notices that a licensee provides under Sections 2689.5, 2689.6, and 2689.9 shall, at a minimum, include each of the following that applies to the licensee and to the consumers to whom the licensee sends its privacy notice:

(1) The categories of nonpublic personal information that the licensee collects;

(2) The categories of nonpublic personal information that the licensee discloses;

(3) The categories of affiliates and nonaffiliated third parties to whom the licensee discloses nonpublic personal information, and the general types of businesses in which the third parties engage if the information is disclosed pursuant to California Insurance Code Section 791.13(k);

(4) The categories of nonpublic personal information about the licensee's former customers that the licensee discloses and the categories of affiliates and nonaffiliated third parties to whom the licensee discloses nonpublic personal information about the licensee's former customers, if the information is disclosed pursuant to California Insurance Code Section 791.13(k);

(5) If a licensee wishes to disclose or reserve the right to disclose nonpublic personal financial information to an affiliate for marketing purposes without affirmative authorization or the right to opt out of that disclosure, a statement explaining that the licensee may disclose nonpublic personal financial information to affiliates for marketing purposes without obtaining prior authorization and the law does not allow customers to restrict that disclosure .

(6) An explanation of the consumer's right to opt out of the disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information to nonaffiliated third parties, including the methods by which the consumer may exercise that right at that time;

(7) Any disclosures that the licensee makes under Section 603(d)(2)(A)(iii) of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681a(d)(2)(A)(iii)) regarding the ability to opt out of disclosures of information among affiliates;

(8) The licensee's policies and practices with respect to protecting the confidentiality and security of nonpublic personal information, including a general description as to who is authorized to have access to the information;

(9) If applicable, a statement that the consumer has the right to access and request correction of recorded nonpublic personal information and a brief description of the manner in which those rights may be exercised; and

(10) The categories of disclosures that the licensee makes under California Insurance Code Section 791.13.

(12) A licensee does not adequately categorize the information that it discloses if the licensee uses only general terms, such as transaction information about the consumer.

(b) If prior authorization is not required and a licensee reserves the right to disclose all of the nonpublic personal information about consumers that it collects, the licensee may simply state that fact without describing the categories or examples of nonpublic personal information that the licensee discloses.

(2) Describe a reasonable means by which the consumer may obtain the notice prescribed by California Insurance Code Section 791.04(b), such as calling a toll-free telephone number to request the notice. If the consumer is provided the abbreviated notice in person at the licensee's office, the abbreviated notice may state that the licensee maintains copies of the notice on hand which will be provided to the consumer immediately upon request; and

(3) If applicable, contain an opt-out notice complying with these regulations.
This section does not prohibit the use of multiple links on a website to different categories or levels of information, as long as they are designed to facilitate rather than impede access.

Section 2689.8. Form of Opt Out Notice and Opt Out Methods (a) If a licensee is required to provide an opportunity to opt- out before it shares any nonpublic personal financial information with a nonaffiliated third party, it shall provide a clear and conspicuous notice to the consumer, that clearly states in 16- point boldface type "IMPORTANT PRIVACY CHOICES", or similarly highlights the purpose of the notice, so that the consumer may make a decision and provide direction to the licensee regarding the sharing of his or her nonpublic personal financial information.

If a licensee provides the opt out notice later than the initial notice, the licensee shall also include, with the opt-out notice, a copy of the initial notice in writing or, if the consumer agrees, electronically.
The notice shall state that the licensee discloses or reserves the right to disclose nonpublic personal financial information about its consumers to nonaffiliated third parties, that the consumer has the right to opt out of that disclosure, and set forth reasonable means by which the consumer may exercise the opt out right.
A licensee provides adequate notice that the consumer can prevent the disclosure of nonpublic personal financial information to a nonaffiliated third party if the licensee (1) identifies all of the categories of nonpublic personal financial information which it discloses or reserves the right to disclose, (2) all of the categories of nonaffiliated third parties to which it discloses the information, (3) states that the consumer can prevent the disclosure of that information, and identifies the insurance products or services that the consumer obtains from the licensee to which the opt out direction would apply.
A licensee provides a reasonable means to exercise an opt out right if it designates check-off boxes in a prominent position on the relevant forms with the opt out notice; includes a reply form together with the opt-out notice; provides an electronic means to opt out, such as a form that can be sent via electronic mail or a process at the licensee's web site, if the consumer agrees to the electronic delivery of information. Unless the consumer agrees to an electronic opt-out method, the licensee shall provide a self-addressed postage prepaid return envelope or a toll-free telephone number that consumers may use to opt out.
A licensee does not provide a reasonable means of opting out if, for example, the only means of opting out is for the consumer to write his or her own letter to exercise that opt out right, or the only means of opting out as described in any notice subsequent to the initial notice is to use a check-off box that the licensee provided with the initial notice but did not include with the subsequent notice.

(b) If a licensee mails the opt-out notice with information that is not a bill or renewal offer, the opt-out notice shall be the first page of the mailing.

(c) A licensee is not subject to the notice and opt out requirements for nonpublic personal financial information if the licensee is an employee or agent of another licensee ("the principal") and:

(1) The principal otherwise complies with, and provides the required notices; and

(2) The licensee does not disclose any nonpublic personal financial information to any person other than the principal or its affiliates in a manner permitted by California Insurance Code Sections 791 - 791.27 or these regulations.

(3) A licensee not otherwise subject to the notice and opt out requirements for nonpublic personal financial information, pursuant to sections 2689.8(c)(1) and (2), is subject to the notice and opt out requirements, pursuant to California Insurance Code Section 791.13(k), if the licensee, prior to issuance of a renewal policy or at any other time, shares nonpublic personal financial information with any person other than the insurer which issued the existing policy. A licensee shares nonpublic personal financial information with a person other than the insurer which issued the existing policy if the licensee shares nonpublic personal financial information with another insurer in an effort to obtain a renewal policy on more favorable terms than the existing policy.

(d) When a consumer has declined to exercise the right to opt out in accordance with this section, the nonpublic personal financial information disclosed:

(1) May not exceed the scope of disclosure stated in the licensee's opt-out notice;

(2) May not include account number, or policy number information; and

(3) Shall comply with California Insurance Code Section 791.13(k)(1).

(e) If two or more consumers jointly obtain an insurance product or service from a licensee, the licensee may provide a single opt out notice, as long as the licensee gives clear and conspicuous notice that the notice is being provided on a joint basis and the consumers have given the licensee a single address of record or the licensee has other reasonable basis to believe that the notice will be adequately communicated to each individual entitled to receive notice.
The licensee's opt out notice shall explain how the licensee will treat an opt out direction by a joint consumer. Any of the joint consumers may exercise the right to opt out. The licensee may either treat an opt out direction by a joint consumer as applying to all of the associated joint consumers or permit each joint consumer to opt out separately. If a licensee permits each joint consumer to opt out separately, the licensee shall permit one of the joint consumers to opt out on behalf of all of the joint consumers. A licensee may not require all joint consumers to opt out before it implements any opt out direction. If one joint policyholder opts out and the other does not, the licensee may only disclose nonpublic personal financial information about the policyholder who did not opt out and may not disclose information relating to the policyholders jointly.

(f) A consumer may exercise the right to opt out at any time. A licensee may share marketing information with nonaffiliated third parties if a consumer does not respond within 30 days. A licensee shall not share information for marketing purposes before the conclusion of the 30-day time period. If a consumer provides an opt-out direction after the licensee has begun sharing nonpublic personal financial information, the licensee shall comply with the opt-out direction no later than 30 days after the licensee receives the opt out direction.

(g) A consumer's direction to opt out under this section is effective until the consumer revokes it in writing or electronically, at the consumer's choice.
When a customer relationship terminates, the customer's opt out direction continues to apply to the nonpublic personal financial information that the licensee collected during or related to that relationship. If the individual subsequently establishes a new customer relationship with the licensee, the opt out direction that applied to the former relationship does not apply to the new relationship.

(h) Any authorized representative may opt out on behalf of the consumer. A licensee receiving notice that a consumer has opted out shall not require proof of authorization unless it has a reasonable basis for believing that the person submitting the opt- out direction was acting contrary to the wishes of the consumer.
NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 791 - 791.27, Insurance Code, 15 U.S.C. Sections 6801, 6805, 6807. Reference: Sections 791.13, Insurance Code; 15 U.S.C.

Section 6802.
Section 2689.9. Revised Privacy Notices

(a) Except as otherwise authorized, a licensee shall not, directly or through an affiliate, disclose any nonpublic personal information about a consumer to a nonaffiliated third party other than as described in the notice provided to that consumer unless:

(1) The licensee has provided to the consumer a clear and conspicuous revised notice that accurately describes its policies and practices;
(2) The licensee has provided to the consumer a new opt out notice which complies with section 2689.8 and;
(3) The consumer does not opt out in accordance with section 2689.8. NOTE: Authority cited: Sections 791 - 791.27, Insurance Code, 15 U.S.C. 6801, 6805, 6807. Reference: Sections 791.13, Insurance Code; 15 U.S.C. Section 6802.

Section 2689.10. Delivery of Notices

(a) A licensee shall provide any required notices, including notices provided at the consumer's request, so that each consumer can reasonably be expected to receive actual notice in writing or, if the consumer agrees, electronically. Notices must be made available in a form capable of retention by the consumer.
A licensee may reasonably expect that a consumer will receive actual notice if the licensee, for example:

(1) Hand-delivers a printed copy of the notice to the consumer;

(2) Mails a printed copy of the notice to the last known address of the consumer separately, or in a policy, billing or other written communication;

(3) For a consumer who conducts transactions electronically, posts the notice on the electronic site in accordance with section 2689.4(a) and requires the consumer to acknowledge receipt of the notice as a necessary step to obtaining a particular insurance product or service;

(4) For an isolated transaction with a consumer, such as the licensee providing an insurance quote or selling the consumer travel insurance, posts the notice in a conspicuous location and requires the consumer to acknowledge receipt of the notice as a necessary step to obtaining the particular insurance product or service.

A licensee may not reasonably expect that a consumer will receive actual notice if it:

(5) Only posts a sign in its office or generally publishes advertisements of its privacy policies and practices; or

(6) Sends the notice via electronic mail to a consumer who does not obtain an insurance product or service from the licensee electronically.

(b) A licensee may not provide any notice required by these regulations solely by orally explaining the notice, either in person or over the telephone.

(a) A licensee shall not disclose nonpublic personal medical record information about a consumer to affiliated or nonaffiliated third parties without the consumer's prior written authorization.

(b) This section does not prohibit or restrict the disclosure of nonpublic personal medical record information as permitted by California Insurance Code Section 791.13 or require an authorization for disclosure of nonpublic personal medical record information other than as required by California Insurance Code Section 791.13.

(b) The actions and procedures described in sections 2689.16, 2689.17, 2689.18, and 2689.19 are examples of methods of implementation of the requirements of sections 2689.14 and 2689.15. These examples are non-exclusive illustrations of actions and procedures that licensees may follow to implement sections 2689.14 and 2689.15 of these regulations.

Each licensee shall implement a comprehensive written information security program that includes administrative, technical and physical safeguards for the protection of customer information. The administrative, technical, and physical safeguards included in the information security program shall be appropriate to the size and complexity of the licensee and the nature and scope of its activities.

(a) Identifies reasonably foreseeable internal and external threats that could result in unauthorized disclosure, misuse, alteration, or destruction of customer information or customer information systems;

(b) Assesses the likelihood and potential damage of these threats, taking into consideration the sensitivity of customer information; and

(a) Designs its information security program to control the identified risks, commensurate with the sensitivity of the information as well as the complexity and scope of the licensee's activities.

(b) Trains staff, as appropriate, to implement the licensee's information security program; and

(c) Regularly tests or otherwise regularly monitors the key controls, systems and procedures of the information security program. The frequency and nature of these tests are determined by the licensee's risk assessment.

(a) Exercises appropriate due diligence in selecting its service providers; and

(b) Requires its service providers, by contract, to implement appropriate measures designed to meet the objectives of this article, and, where indicated by the licensee's risk assessment, takes appropriate steps to confirm that its service providers have satisfied such obligations.

A licensee monitors, evaluates, and adjusts, as appropriate, the information security program in light of any relevant changes in technology, the sensitivity of its customer information, internal or external threats to information, and the licensee's own changing business arrangements, such as mergers and acquisitions, outsourcing arrangements, and changes to customer information systems.

The Commissioner shall audit a licensee's compliance with this article in a manner and with such frequency as the Commissioner deems necessary. Violations of this article are subject to California Insurance Code Section 791.15, et seq. and any other enforcement provisions available to the Commissioner.

Nothing in these regulations shall be construed to modify, limit or supersede the operation of the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), and no inference shall be drawn on the basis of the provisions of these regulations regarding whether information is transaction or experience information under Section 603 of that Act.

A licensee shall not unfairly discriminate against any consumer or customer because that consumer or customer has opted out from the disclosure of his or her nonpublic personal information pursuant to the provisions of these regulations.

A licensee shall not unfairly discriminate against a consumer or customer because that consumer or customer has not granted authorization for the disclosure of his or her nonpublic personal medical record information pursuant to the provisions of these regulations.

As used in this section, "unfairly discriminate" includes denying a consumer or customer a product or service because he or she has not provided the consent required to authorize the financial institution to disclose or share his or her nonpublic personal information as provided in California Insurance Code Section 791.13(k).

If any section or portion of a section of these regulations or its applicability to any person or circumstance is held invalid by a court, the remainder of the regulation or the applicability of the provision to other persons or circumstances shall not be affected.

These regulations are effective one hundred and twenty (120) days after they are filed with the Secretary of State. If that day falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or any holiday set forth in California Government Code Section 6700, the regulations shall become effective on the next business day.

Within 90 days of the effective date of these regulations, all contracts that a licensee enters into or has entered into with a nonaffiliated third party to perform services for the licensee or functions on the licensee's behalf shall include or be amended to include a written requirement that the third party maintain the confidentiality of nonpublic personal information where the nonaffiliated third party obtains confidential nonpublic personal information in connection with the contract.

If applicable, a licensee may use the following sample clauses in its notices. A group of financial holding company affiliates using a common privacy notice may use these clauses if accurate for each company. These clauses are not exclusive. (Note that disclosure of certain information, such as assets, income and information from a consumer reporting agency, may result in obligations under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act.)

Categories of information collected

The following language may be used to describe the categories of personal information collected.

We collect personal information about you from:

· Applications or other forms you complete;
· Your business dealings with us and other companies; and
· Consumer reporting agencies.

Categories of information disclosed

The following language may be used to describe the categories of personal information disclosed.

Alternative 1:

We may disclose the following personal information about you:

· Information from your application or other forms, such as your name, address, social security number, assets, income, and beneficiaries;
· Information about your transactions with us, our affiliates or others, such as your policy coverage, premiums, and payment history; and
· Information from consumer reporting agencies, such as your credit history.

Alternative 2:

We may disclose all the information that we collect about you.

To whom information is disclosed

The following language may be used to describe the persons to whom the licensee discloses information.

Alternative 1:

We do not disclose any personal information about you to anyone unless allowed by law. The law allows us to share your financial information with our affiliates to market products or services to you. You cannot prevent those disclosures.

Alternative 2:

We may disclose personal information about you to:

· Financial companies, such as life insurers, automobile insurers, mortgage bankers, securities broker-dealers, and insurance agents;
· Companies, such as retailers, direct marketers, airlines, and publishers; and
· Others, such as non-profit organizations.

Alternative 3:

We may also disclose personal information about you as allowed by law. The law allows us to share your financial information with our affiliates to market products or services to you. You cannot prevent those disclosures.

Explanation of opt out right

The following language may be used to explain the consumer's right to opt out of the disclosure of personal financial information to nonaffiliated third parties and how the consumer may exercise that right, when the licensee discloses personal information as permitted by California Insurance Code Section 791.13(k)(2).

If you don't want us to disclose personal information about you to nonaffiliated companies, you may tell us so. This is known as "opting out". If you wish to opt out, call us at 1-800-___-____ or complete and return the enclosed form. We may share information about you if we do not hear from you within 30 days. However, you may opt-out at any time. Just call or write us. Even if you opt-out, we may still disclose information as allowed by law. This includes disclosing information to our affiliates to market other products or services to you.

Confidentiality and security

The following language may be used to describe how a licensee protects the confidentiality and security of personal information.

We protect your nonpublic personal information. The only employees who have access to that information are those who must have it to provide products or services to you.